Toronto Dog Bite Lawyer
Owning a pet comes with a great deal of responsibility. The nearly 8 million pet dogs across the country all require a loving home and an attentive owner who responsibly takes care of their canine family member. However, in addition to the responsibilities of regularly walking, feeding, grooming, and tending to their needs, dog owners could be held responsible for the harm their pet does to other humans.
In accordance with the province’s Dog Owners’ Liability Act, a dog’s owner has a duty of care to others. Therefore, they must take reasonable preventative precautions to ensure their pet does not injure another human. If a dog bites, mauls, or otherwise attacks someone, either its owner or the person who was responsible for looking after the dog at the time of the attack could be liable for damages incurred by the people they have injured.
Even if their dog has never exhibited any kind of aggressive or outwardly violent behaviours towards people, its owner might be responsible for financially compensating injured victims of the attack. No matter how docile or well-behaved they might regularly be, dogs have the potential to seriously harm– and even kill– unsuspecting humans, even when they are unprovoked.
Toddlers and other small children are particularly susceptible to severe, permanent, or even fatal injuries as the result of being attacked by someone else’s dog. And while many pet lovers might presume that their dog would never hurt a stranger, the victims of dog attacks usually come from outside the dog’s close circle of trusted humans.
While it might seem like a humorous stereotype, mail carriers are often seriously injured after being bitten by dogs. As a matter of fact, statistics show that over 500 Canada Post employees are seriously injured by aggressive dogs each year. Other victims commonly injured by someone else’s dog include:
- Neighbours
- Guests to the premises
- Passersby
- Delivery agents
- And more
When dogs bite unsuspecting community members, the permanent scars they leave behind can be both physical and psychological. In addition to potentially disfiguring an attack victim or causing them to sustain other serious physical injuries, biting dogs can cause people to develop severe mental health issues, including:
- Diminished self-esteem due to physical disfigurement
- Sleep disorders
- Permanent phobias
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- And more
The economic toll that comes with sustaining both physical and psychological injuries in a dog attack can be staggering. Most injured victims of dog attacks are unprepared for the resulting financial burden. That is why working with a Toronto dog bite lawyer could be so beneficial. By pursuing a civil claim against the at-fault dog owner whose failure to uphold their duty of care led to their injury-causing attacks, the victims of dog attacks could recover compensation for their damages.
Call Preszler Injury Lawyers Today to Learn About Your Options
To learn more about working with our dog bite lawyers serving Toronto, call 1-800-JUSTICE today to schedule a free initial consultation. During this cost-free, no-obligation first meeting, you will have the opportunity to speak with our Toronto dog bite lawyers, ask important questions, and learn about options for financial recovery that might be available to you.
Take advantage of your free initial consultation and receive the benefit of personalized, case-specific legal feedback. To get in touch with our dog bite lawyers serving Toronto, contact Preszler Injury Lawyers today.
